The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1887-11-21
Old Kitchens.

olu country iarIn mouse, rclnarkS !
writer in The Practical Farmer, my
attention was especially called to thu
fondness of the whole family for tn,
kitchen. Its smoke-darkcned rr"crs
with drying herbs depending irom
them here and there, its 'brick oven
and fireplace. in front Of which mod,
ern stove sacrilegiously performs th,
daily cooking of the family; the care
fully kept chest of drawers, the close
and cupboard, the old. fashioned, many.
patterned chairs, the general air o.
quiet, simple comfort which pervadet
the whole-all these made the kitchen
the favorite resort Of us ALL. The
mornings and nights were chilly, and
ono of the days, and ut such times W,
loved to gather in the kitchen, and
sitting by the pleasant windows. tel
stories by the hour. The sweetness apd
cleanliness of some Of these old kitch
ems put many modern parlor to shame
Perhaps some of the readers REGAL
Mrs. Mary Clemmers pleasant de
scription of a kitchen. 1 have thought
of 1t many times lately. She says: -
am sorry for that woman who does no,
treasure in her heart somewhere the
memory Of n beloved Kitchen
You can hardly be happier IL
heaven than when you played or
its floor little child. love such
q kitchen; not the discarded one of
fine villa but the honored kitchen of
thrifty farm house. II faces the east
and takes the suns first good-morning
Thus It's busiest hours are full of bright.
ness, and its restful afternoons full OF
serene light and peaceful shadows. II,
wide doors open on n grassy yard
where the old oaken bucket hangs il
the we'll. What yard it is! 1t.
clover grass is paradise for bleaching
irregular paths run through the
dandelions down TO the garden. whose
luscious vegetables offer daily market
for the ready hand, and out to the or.
chard, where the ruddy apples hang
There Is an old lilac bush BY one win,
dow, sweet brier by the other, while
morning glory bells cluster about both.
Beside one is stand full of plants,
which in the winter flourish in the
morning sun. On its edge is a work.
basket-a marvellous basket-into
whose depths l sometimes drive,
through piles of stockings. through
bundles and bags, through scissors and
thimbles and pins, down to q needle
book Certain to be at tho bottom,
if only through my impetuous
looking), in whose pocket I an
sure TO find whole litera'
ure of domestic recipes. heart
poems and editorials on the state of the
nation. Beside II is little old chair
with warm cushion. This is the
mothers chair and the mothers corner,
and not to be invaded Then the old
kitchen has a deep fireplace, a vast
bake oven and modern stove. 1t has
a great pantry, whose wide shelves are
filled with glttering milk-pans, all sci
for cream; and store-room, in which
you may find everything for cheer,
from the barrels of flour and sugar, the
rows of sweetmeats, dear to every
house wife's heart, TO punches of cat
nip hung up for the cat, and pennyroy.
al enough for every stomach-achine
baby in town. The old kitchen floor is
painted clear gray, frightened by
gay home made mats. 1t has deep.
throated clock, that rules its days.; a
book-rack filled with books and news.
papers, and colored prints on its walls.
1t has an armchair. sewing-chair and
chintz-covered lounge. There IL
nothing in 1t too fine for its place. II
is only kitchen. after all, yet JOY
TO behold and to enjoy.
There is parlor in this house,
proud in bright grandmother-m
carpet. of the most intense stripes; in
hair.cloth furniture, rs shining as
beetles back; in profuse pile OF old
daguerreo-types and new photograph
book. On It's walls old gentlemen sill
in venerable frames, with high collars.
stiff enough TO break their necks; and
old ladies sit in others, in mutton-leg
sleeves and bristling caps, who look
down with mild severity on the
chignons of their descendants. When
the minister comes. or the children
from town, the parlor is opened and
furnished. But somehow, sooner OF
later, all the company gravitate back
into the old kitchen; for the glow, the
cheer, the love are there"
II is impossible. under modern con-
ditions. to retain in many homes such
traditional charms as those which ]
have found in my dear kitchen. and
which Mrs. Clemmer so graphically
describes. but am fully decided to
have in my country house, which ]
have been building lin the cloud's) for
about twenty years, some lovely. cosy,
sunshiny, old-fashioned room. which
my children and their mates may find
as restful, and recall with as much
pleasure in future days. as we do these
Of which have spoken.